Three alumni of the Martinsville Mustangs were selected in the 2021 MLB Draft earlier this week in Denver, Colorado.

Kevin Kopps – San Diego Padres (Round 3, Pick 99)

With the 99th overall pick, the San Diego Padres selected right-hander Kevin Kopps from the University of Arkansas making him the highest draft pick in Martinsville Mustangs history.

Kopps made six appearances and three starts for the Mustangs in 2020, allowing only nine earned runs in 18.1 innings of work. He struck out a team-high 31 hitters and finished in the top 10 of all pitchers in the Coastal Plain League in strikeouts.

At Arkansas in 2021, the righty finished with an impressive 12-1 record and and 0.90 ERA, allowing just nine runs the entire season and striking out 131 batters. Kopps was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award for the top player in college baseball and took home Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year Award honors as well as the Dick Howser Trophy.

Patrick Halligan – Kansas City Royals (Round 13, Pick 379)

With the 379th overall pick in the 13th round, the Kansas City Royals selected right-hander Patrick Halligan from Pensacola State College.

Halligan, a Virginia native, spent two summers in Martinsville. In 2020, the righty was 2-2 in six starts for the Mustangs and struck out 26 hitters in 30.2 innings. During an abbreviated stint in 2021, the 6’5 hurler finished with a 3.24 ERA, nine strikeouts, two walks and seven hits in 8.1 innings of work.

Parker Chavers – Chicago Cubs (Round 7, Pick 214)

With the 214th overall pick in the seventh round, the Chicago Cubs selected outfielder Parker Chavers from Coastal Carolina University.

Chavers played in 24 games for the Mustangs in 2018, hitting .239 with six doubles, two triples, eight RBI and finished second on the team in stolen bases with five.

At Coastal Carolina, Chavers was a three-time All-Sun Belt selection and led the Chanticleers in 2021 in hitting (.318), hits (62), doubles (12), and stolen bases (14).